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Tuesday February 23 2016

Hunger kills 11 in Kaabong

Children and their mother sit by the grave of their grandmother who reportedly died of hunger in Teretha, Kaabong District, last week. PHOTO BY STEVEN ARIONG

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By Steven Ariong

Kaabong- Families in Kaabong District in Karamoja sub-region are facing starvation with 11 people reported dead due to hunger in the last one month.

According to Mr Samson Lokeris, the Dodoth East MP, the 11 people died in Kathile, Lodike, Lolelia and Loyoro sub-counties.

Mr Lokeris, who also doubles as chairman for Karamoja parliamentary group, attributed the hunger to the prolonged drought that has dried up water sources.

He said although the Office of the Prime Minister delivered an assortment of food in December last year, the relief was not enough to cater for all the affected families.

“It is a bad situation right now in Kaabong. We are losing one person almost every day to hunger and others have hoped to migrate to Kenya where the Kenyan government is giving out food to its people,” Mr Lokeris said. He called for general food distribution in the whole region, saying the situation was also worse in other parts.

The Kaabong Resident District Commissioner, Mr Simon Lolim, confirmed the hunger situation, but said he had not yet received the death reports. “I am aware of the hunger in the district but I have not yet received any information about any person dying of hunger in the district,” he said.

However, Mr Lokeris said he gave the report and pictures of the people who died of hunger to the RDC

“What is he [RDC] talking about? I gave him the report. I have been attending these burials and in most cases, I am the one who buys coffins to bury these people, RDCs are aware of the situation,” Mr Lokeris said.